Favorite Large Leaf Plants..........

Bamboochik(Z-8-HOT-S.AL)February 15, 2002

What are your favorite large leaf plants? Of course we all love gunnera, but I can't grow it here in the deep, hot, south so far...likes those cool, misty, coastal regions...so I always depend on Tetrapanax, Fatsia, Princes Tree, Catalpa, banana, gingers, heliconia, alocasia, colocasia and of course the large hosta's, which I make sure are in deep shade here...great in bamboo groves, banana groves, my deep woods next to fern banks..picture perfect!

Hi, Bamboochik. Your post about large-leaved plants, specifically tetrapanax, piqued my interest yet again about why "washi," (Japanese paper) which is made from the pith of tetrapanax, is always called "rice paper."

So I finally did a little research. It seems it's a misnomer, that's all.

Here in Japan, most folks have small gardens so we don't have the luxury of having large-leaved plants. And taros are a root crop that no one finds attractive, LOL. Just like everyone considers miscanthus a tenacious unwelcome weed that they would like to see banished from the face of the earth! Ditto bamboo.

Don't have much shade either, but in those part shade places, I love the hostas. If I had the space, it would have to be fatsia, which adds color and blooms in winter--so cheerful.

wait a minute, big leave! I love banana, which doesn't go only for decor but also for cooking! Wrap and steam- the leave add the meal entirely one more appeal. And easy to grow from seeds.

Andy, I love taro foliage in here Japan. Even some home architecture magazines in Japan have featured that plant as focal point with a graceful pot- not bad at all. Though my granma considers it as a crop as you said... ;)

Cardoon is my favorite large leaf plant for my hot, dry and sunny garden. I love the large gray leaves, even though they do resemble a thistle. Okay, so it isn't as exotic or striking as gunnera but it does make a nice visual impact in the garden. ~ Suzie

My favorite I think has to be elephant ears. I plan to have some of them this year. There's nothing more tropical looking. Others are cannas, hostas, and the aforementioned bananas. I love tropical foliage plants.

I agree 100% about the instant smack large leaves give. I like them all...particularly those that enhance a tropical and jungle look. One quick fix is using the various improved types of castor beans such as 'Carmencita' and 'New Orleans Intrigue'...both of which will dazzle anybody by their awesome growth into small trees in just one season...the king of all annuals for sure. I have extra seeds to share of both if anybody is interested.

yes, jon, to echo what rick asked, i would like to know about 'intrugue' as well.
actually, this summer will be my first time to grow the red-leaved castor bean, ricinus communis 'carmencita'.
a local art gallery had them growing in the beds around the house and they were quite striking, both foliage and flowers. they interplanted ornamental grasses and crotons with them. it was a very bold color and texture combination.
i asked for some seed and they shared with me.
now, if i can just find a spot with enough sun for them.

For tropical flair, another great plant is Hibiscus tiliaceus (pictured in the link below). It'll top six feet in a long warm season, with large ovoid to heart-shaped leaves that have purplish tints when young. I have the variegated form which makes a nice outrageous accent in my Ohio garden.

I hate to be so pedestrian about hardy large leaved plants, but the oak leaved hydrangea Snow queen has pretty large leaved. (With the added bonus that, unlike my white bird of paradise, I do not have to get into a marital dispute about where am I going to store that monster this winter.)

Hmmmmm, no-one has mentioned Piper auritum! Lovely large, velvety, heart-shaped leaves with the added bonus of that wonderful rootbeer scent! The largest leaf in my own garden is Xanthosoma sagittafolia, the garden is small so I am always removing a lot of babies, lol, but I just love the things.

I like the shape of the big hostas but needed a full sun alternative... so I planted a comfrey plant near the edge of one of my beds. Now that I've already done it, I hear that they're invasive if allowed to reseed. Does anyone in zone 8 know anything I should know about this plant? I'm only interested in it as an ornamental...

Well, this question would be right up my alley as that about all I grow. But manly aroids. So probably Alocasia and Colocasia forms would be my favorite as well as Xanthosomas. Oh and philodendrons and Anthuriums Cyrtospermas lasias urospathas monsteras syngoniums. Oh and then the hardy ones petasites ligularia rhubarb gunnera. As you can see I need help. Their are just so many and so little time.